Attention computer guru's. Off topic.

15 comments

• how

  •

  15 years ago

  No, files don't "wear out," although the data can get corrupted. Since this is happening to many files, I suspect a codec* issue. However, that would not likely play even for a couple minutes. Do you get any error messages when they stop playing?
  
  *compressor/decompressor, for example MPEG or divX. This is just a way to encode the data efficiently, but playback requires the specific "codec" that was used to compress it.
• shadowcat

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  15 years ago

  how, I cannot believe that this is a codec issue. Whenever I down load a movie, windows media player always tells me that I do not have the right codec to play them. Then I delete them. There are no error messages. I can back up the file and it will play again for a short time but then stops again. This is only happening with older files. Puzzled.
• Clubber

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  15 years ago

  Quite simply, sounds like corruption. When you d/l to your drive, they were likely fragmented due to there size and such. As disk data and drives "age", it is not uncommon for some data to be corrupted. One of the reasons for a good backup.
  
  You can always run a good disk evaluation routine to check the integrity of your data, but I can not think of any "fixable" reason for your problem, sans a good backup.
• txtittyfan

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  15 years ago

  Check your available memory. I had a similar problem a few years go related to memory restrictions. Also, try the help and self diagnostics of the program. I have had reasonable success with them resolving issues.
• deogol

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  15 years ago

  If your files are on a mobile hard drive (external drive or laptop) there is the possibility of sectors getting fucked up. This is why you want to back shit up.
  
  That said, I am more to the opinion of the others there is a codec problem.
• KootchieKoo

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  15 years ago

  I strongly suspect a codec issue and not file corruption. The procedure below will install every codec known to man in a 'known good' state along with a player (that's better than Windows Media Player) for you to try. You used to have to get codecs from all over the place but now they are all in this one installer.
  
  Go here
  
  http://www.codecguide.com/download_k-lit…
  
  and download the installer for the Mega codec pack (klmcodec485.exe).
  
  Launch klmcodec485.exe
  
  Hit 'Next' until you get to the 'Select Components' screen
  
  Change profile to Profile 7 (Lots of Stuff)
  
  Scroll down, check VC-1
  
  Hit 'Next' til you get to Install, click 'Install'
  
  Click 'Finish'
  
  Start -> Programs -> K-Lite Codec Pack -> Media Player Classsic
  
  This is Media Player Classic (MPC), a player designed to resemble Microsoft's Windows Media Player version 6.4, the last decent version before they started fucking it up.
  
  Load some of your video files directly within MPC using File -> Open File
  
  Hopefully they will all play OK. If not, report back, there are some troubleshooting utilities in the K-Lite pack.
  
• Clubber

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  15 years ago

  KootchieKoo,
  
  Did you miss that shadowcat stated, "...they now play for a minute or two and then stop." I've never heard of a codec that isn't installed, start to work before "it" discovers that "it" isn't there and shouldn't be working!
• shadowcat

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  15 years ago

  I thank you all but I am not buying any of the answers. How can a file be corrupt when it worked perfectly fine for 5 years? How can a 20 minute movie suddenly get reduced to 2 minutes before it stops playing? The other day I went through my 240 pornos and eliminated 37 that would no longer work. Still puzzled.
• shadowcat

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  15 years ago

  BTW I do back up my files automatically with a "D" drive and use an anti virus system that updates constantly. I get the box when it does. Almost daily. It automatically does a scan every night at 3AM.
• Clubber

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  15 years ago

  Computer discs are like any other mechanical/electrical device in the world. They fail, and "corruption" is one way. BTW, do you ever de-fragment the drive?
• shadowcat

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  15 years ago

  Clubber, Yes I do defrag and also use an anti spyware program. My son is a Guru in charge of security for a major credit reporting company. He built my computer and helps me to maintain it. Has even fixed problems from his home 60 miles away. He says that there is nothing wrong with my computer but is just the dumb ass using it. He thinks that the files were just corrupt but how can 37 files get corrupted over time, After 5 years?
  
  Funny story. A hacker got into my computer 6 years ago. I was typing an email to my then ATF. He typed in FUCK YOU and hit the send button. I had to do some explaining! I have since changed my log in to a much more difficult name.
• how

  •

  15 years ago

  Shadowcat asked, "How can a file be corrupt when it worked perfectly fine for 5 years?"
  
  Computer hard drives are typically magnetic media (some are optical, some are solid-state, but I am reasonably certain yours are magnetic). The data are stored and read from this magnetic media, and over time, some parts of the media can become unusable or corrupt.
  
  Peter Norton made his fortune developing utilities to address this fact.
• shadowcat

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  15 years ago

  how, that was technically way over my head but I got it. It explained what has happened to me. I thank you.
• txtittyfan

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  15 years ago

  If you go to the Microsoft online help, they have steps for troubleshooting movies that stop playing. Try to Google "troubleshooting codec"
• KootchieKoo

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  15 years ago

  You shouldn't be deleting your porn just because it won't play.
  
  Although there is a WMP for Macintosh, assume you're using a PC.
  
  From his 2nd post I don't understand about the not having the right codec business, if WMP sez you don't have the right codec, there must be a codec issue, right? Thus my response.
  
  So is this what's happening: ALL files, regardless of age, when opened give an initial error about not having the right codec. You cancel out of the error. You move the slider back to the beginning. ALL files begin to play, MOST play OK all the way thru, but SOME (the 37) play OK for 1-2 mins but stop. The ones that don't play now played OK back when they were downloaded.
  
  What happens when they stop, a correct last "frozen" frame remains displayed, WMP play area goes black, WMP gives error or quits?
  
  I still suspect his older files use older codecs (like AVI w/Intel Indeo 4 or 5). As time passes and new versions (6 thru 11) of WMP come out, the underlying codec files are updated too. These can get corrupted, and I suspect that newer versions of WMP may not play videos using the older codecs well.
  
  The K-lite pack easily installs all the latest codecs properly, won't screw things up, and give you a nice player as well. If you don't want to do that, the VLC player uses its own codecs, was that one you tried?
  
  If you still have one of the "bad" files you can send it to me thru this transfer service
  
  http://www.transferbigfiles.com/Default.…
  
  and I'll see if I can play it. That requires my email address which I'll send to Shadowcat in a private message.